Superman & Loisstar Michael Cudlitz has revealed details of how he landed the role of Lex Luthor in the belovedDCTV drama while being the last big bad for the final season. As there have been multiple stars to bring Superman to life, severalactors have played Lex Luthorin live-action both on the big and small screens. One of the most recent incarnations that is about to have a big fall isSuperman & Lois’Lex, following Cudlitz’s introduction in The CW drama in 2023.
WithSuperman & Loisseason 4 set to debut tonight,Screen Rantspoke with Cudlitz about taking on the famous DC baddie.Cudlitz revealed that theSuperman & Loisteam had actually wanted him to play Lex, which is why it was an offer rather than an audition, revealing the following:
Michael Cudlitz:Todd [Helbing] came to me, it was a long process, but Todd came to me and wanted me as Lex. For a long time, they didn’t think that they could get me, [laughs] that’s all on them. We kept hearing about that they were going to be asking or looking into. But it took them about four or five months before we actually really heard from them, and then when I heard about it, I absolutely wanted to do it, [it’s the] opportunity of a lifetime. It’s, literally, the original bad guy, so yeah, of course, [laughs] but also terrifying!
When Cudlitz was cast as Lex inSuperman & Loisseason 3 before going into season 4, it wasn’t known at the time that he would be the show’s final major villain.Cudlitz spoke about getting intoSuperman & Loiswhile praising the incredible work that has been done over the years, while adding the following:
Michael Cudlitz:I didn’t know the show until they started talking to me about doing the show, and then I went back and watched the pilot and immediately fell in love with the story. I think, had I not even done the show, they’re doing so well. Tyler is incredible. Bitsie is incredible. Everyone is amazing and the secondary characters, some are in the comic books, and some [are] not, they just round out that world. It’s a wonderful world that they’ve set up and it’s a real, very safe world for the audience. It reminds me, in a lot of ways, of the old Star Trek; they may get in danger, but next week, everybody’s going to be there. Unless, of course, you were in a red shirt, then you won’t be.
Michael Cudlitz’s Lex Luthor Casting Explained & What He Means For Superman & Lois
When it comes totheSuperman & Loisactors, The CW drama has always been spot on with their casting process as they have tapped incredible talent to play these characters.In the case of Lex, as it was unknown if he would ever be showing up in the series due to restrictions at the time,Superman & Loisclearly knew from the get-go that they wanted to bring a very different version of him to life. SinceSuperman & Loistakes place on a different Earth from the other Arrowverse shows, it allowed the creative team to cast a new Lex.
AsSuperman & Loisis exploring an incarnation of Lex who is further into his journey in comparison to his comic book counterpart,he serves as a solid parallel to these iterations of Lois Lane and Clark Kent. To hear that Cudlitz was easily sold on this vision of the Superman mythology is also a big plus, as The CW show’s refreshing take on these DC icons continues to be appreciated. That is why it will be exciting to see how they go out fully with Lex inSuperman & Loisseason 4before they wrap up the series.
Our Take On Michael Cudlitz’s Lex Luthor Casting
From what has been shown thus far with Cudlitz, he has quickly become one of the strongest-portrayed versions of Lex inlive-actionSupermanTV showsand/or movies. Even though there are only a handful of episodes left forSuperman & Loisseason 4,it is still great that the show got the chance to finally bring Lex into the fold and have him serve as the final antagonist. AsSuperman & Loisseason 4 gets ready to bring an end to The CW’s final DC TV adventure, time will tell what the writers have in store with Lex for the audience.
Superman & Loisseason 4 debuts tonight with a two-hour season premiere starting at 8/7c on The CW.
Superman & Lois
Cast
Superman & Lois follows the Man of Steel, Clark Kent, and journalist Lois Lane as they navigate the strains of contemporary parenthood while confronting threats from supervillains and alien invaders, blending personal challenges with heroic responsibilities in this 2021 television series.
